Who doesn’t love an adorable dog that’s playing in the grass? Maybe you’ve gone over to a neighbor’s house and their dog is so cute you might want to play with him. Then that cute, playful doggie turns into a territorial and aggressive dog.
This transition plays out all the time and can be hard to spot when fun, innocent playing, turns into aggressive behavior from the dog, that’s why it is important to know just how a dog will show that he is past the point of playing and is turning aggressive. Knowing these signs will help you to avoid getting bitten by a dog.
The first sign that a dog has gone from playful to aggressive is that he will expose his teeth. This can be a tricky one to spot because if you’re wrestling with the dog he may already be doing just that, but when the animal exposes its teeth in a more aggressive way it’s time to stop the wrestling and give the dog a rest.
Another sign that your playtime should be over is when a dog switches from playful yips to deep growls. This can be a little bit easier to spot. Growling is a dog’s way of telling you to back off and give him some space. If a dog starts a really low growl it’s time to call it a day and let the dog have a breather.
One other way to tell if the dog you’re playing with might turn aggressive is when he stands tall with his ears stiff. Dogs will often use body language to show that they are not comfortable with the situation and therefore you should give them some space. If you’re playing with a dog and they suddenly get into this posture you’ll know it’s time to stop.
If you get bitten by a dog whether you’re rough housing with him or not, you should contact a Connecticut personal injury attorney who can review your case and help you better understand your options. Dogs are adorable and playing with them is fun, but when they get aggressive it’s important to know when to back off and give them some space.
